The Press. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1880. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4635, 9 June 1880, Page 2

The Press. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1880. NEWS OF THE DAY.

Fihanciai, Statbmbht.—The Financial Statement was delivered in the House of Representatives last evening by the Hon. Colonial Treasurer, Major Atkinson. We are indebted to the Government for the report which appears in another columß, which was transmitted, by the Telegraph department with commendable despatch and accuracy. It ie proposed to exempt personal effects, &c, from assessment under the property tax, to impose a dnty of 6d per gallon on colonial beer, and increase the duty on imported beer by6d. It is also proposed to increase the stamp duties.

PAPAKDT SAIiBTABDe COMPASY. — The annual meeting of the above company was held at the Sawyers' Arms last night. Mr Robert Duncan, chairman, presided. The statement of accounts and balance-sheet, as submitted, were adopted by the meeting. Meesra Duncan, Munro and Jackson, directors, retired by rotation, and Messrs Dowdle, Jackeon, and Munro were elected. Mr H. Godfrey was re-elected auditor. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the ohainnan.

Ohbistohuboh Shakspbabb Society.— The inaugural meeting of this society was held at the College Library on Monday evening last, the Very Bey. the Dean occupying the chair. About twelve members were present. It was resolved te hold weekly meetings in the College Library for the purpose of reading and critioising Shakspeare, and for debating on Shakspearian subjects. A small number of rules were drawn up, binding the members, the Very Rev. the Chairman kindly consenting to act as president. It was further resolved that anyone wishing to become a member should communicate with the president or with the secretary, Mr I. F. Dodd.

Cokobkt. —The concert given by the Misses A. S. and L. Taylor, takes place in the Oddfellows' Hall tomorrow evening. The programme, in addition to glees by several gentlemen under the direotion of Mr N. Barnett, will comprise a concerto in D major for concertina by Mies L. Taylor, recitative and, aria from. "La Nozze di Figaro " by Miss A. S. Taylor, two instrumental duets for piano and violin and concertina and piano by Messrs J. Coombs and Landergan and Mies Taylor and Mr Landergan, also solos by Mrs Townend and Mr Appleby. Daring the evening Herr Lund will play a free fantasia on a theme to be given by Mr A. Lean, and the programme will close with Boeokel's cantata "The Sea Maidens," in which a number of ladies will take part. Such a bill of fare should induce a crowded house. '

Acotdhkt.—An accident happened to Mr G-. W. Westropp, the schoolmaster, at Little Eiver, on Saturday last, which caused jhim to loee two fingers off bis left hand. It appears that on the morning of Saturday laet Mr Weetropp went in his canoe down the river to get a shot at some wild f owL When near the mouth of the river he fired at a duck, when the gun burst, shattering his left hand badly. He managed to paddle his canoe to the bank of the river, aid to walk home. Mr Olphert at once despatched a meesenger to Duvauchelle'a Say, who telegraphed from there to Dr. G-uthrie at Akaroa,who at once proceeded to the Little Eiver. On hie arrival, and after examining Mr Westropp's hand, he found it would be necessary to cut off the little and third fingers at the knuckle joint. This, after putting his patient under chloroform, he did, and then extracted a piece of wood, being part of the gun stock, from- the palm of the hand. On Sunday Mr Olphert went to fetch up the canoe, and in it found the remains of the gun. These consisted of three pieces only, being portions of the stock, both barrelv lock* <fee., having been blown pletely-away. We are glad to learn that Mr Westropp is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances.

Lboai.—Mr Frederick Wilding was yesterday admitted by his Honor Mr Justice Johnston as a barrister "and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Caebiaqb of Gbahc —The grain traffic on the Christchuroh section of railway on Saturday amounted to 5711 bags, and Monday 4963 bags were forwarded, and there were 6549 on hand on Monday evening. AbbbstS.—A man named John Selby alias The Bake, was arrested at Ashburton yesterday, on a charge of stealing a coat, the property of William Judd; and George Saunders was arrested at Sydenham for alleged larceny of a clook. The South Towh Beit. —The little difficulty of the insertion of some words in the Draft Bill re the Town Belt, by the Sydenham Council, having'been got over, it is probable that the bill will at once be forwards! to Wellington, so that it can be brought forward in the House as speedily as possible. The Dbutdb. — The adjourned general meeting of the above order was held at the Wellington Hotel last evenin*, D.P. Bro. S winner ton in the chair. There was a fair attendance of members. It was proposed and carried —" That provision be made for conveying the members of the Order to Southbrook by rail on Thursday evening, returning at 11.45." A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings. MtjnioipA! Wobxb.—The works committee of the City Counoil, at a meeting held yesterday morning, accepted the tender of Messrs O'Donoghue and Miller for formation and shingling of North and Fyfe streets. They also decided to form two footpaths in Mollett's lane, each 3 feet wide; and permisßion was given the Tramway Company to sink a dry tank in Cathedral square.

Sttebbmb CotTET. —His Honor Mr Justice Johnston held a sitting in Chambers yesterday, when there was a fairly lengthy cause list gone through. This is the last sitting previous to his Honor's departure for Timaru to open the circuit sittings there. These, with the civil cases set down for trial, will probably extend over a fortnight. His Honor, with the Bsgistrar, leaves for Timaru to-day. Licensing Ooubt, Bangioba.—This Court sat on Tuesday. 'The Commissioners present were C. Whitefoord, Eaq., 8.M., A. H. Canningham, and S. Hey wood, Eeqe. The police report was read, and considered satisfactory. The temporary licenses in the oases of W. Ij. Wilson, Club Hotel; and Q-eo. Haxell, Junction Hotel, were - confirmed, - and the other licenses applied for renewed. Benewals of hotel licenses were granted to H. Moody, Bed Lion Hotel j D. Walsh, Plough Inn, Bangiora ; and to S. Green, Masonic Hotel, Southbrook ; all of whioh were reported to be well conducted. Co operative Land CoaiPAirr. —The final meeting of shareholders took place at the Golden Age Hotel on Monday night last, Mr Gk G-. Davidson in the chair. The following resolution was put, and lost by 30 to 4, viz., " That an agent be sent to Taranaki to bid for the several sections of land, there being more than one applicant for the same land (with the exception of three applications)." The auotion sale takes place on 23rd June. It was decided that each applicant muet either go himself or send instructions*!*) the authorities at Taranaki. It was reeolved that each and every one work independently from this date. The surplus money was divided, and the company wound up. Gotbbnmbnt Sohoiabshits.—The examination for the above scholarships commenced at the Normal Sohool yesterday morning, and willbe continued on Wednesday and Thursday. The value of each scholarship is £40, tenable for two years, and is for boys and girls under fourteen years of age. There are seven candidates, viz., four boys and three girls. The oubjeots for examination are — Tuesday: English, grammar, composition, and ancient history, Wednesday: arithmetic and modern history. Thursday: algebra, geometry, and geography. Theatee Botali.—This place of amusement is closed until Saturday evening, when Mr Baoheld«r will introduce his Pantasoope. In connection with this M. Chalet, who will be remembered as being here with Cooper and Bailey's circus, will give his ventriloquial entertainment. M. Chalet as a ventriloquist is one of the beet we have had here, and Mr Baohelder's reputation as a caterer for the publio amusement by means of panoramas, dioramas, and pantascopes, is so well known that this part of the entertainment ought not to lack novelty. . Opbnutg Institutes on Sundays.—At the meeting of members of the Institute at Kaiapoi on Monday, the question of closing the reading-room on Sundays, upon a motion of which previous notice had been given, oame on for .consideration. The only members - who spoke on the proposition were singularly enough those who at the meeting some years ago supported the motion. to open the room on Sundays, and who now deplored the faot that it had not been used, except by a few. larrikins, who upon one occasion had to be •forcibly ejeoted. The motion for now closing the reading-room on Sundays ~ was carried unanimously. The Unemployed.—A second meeting of the unemployed was held yesterday morning in the square, when the proposed petition to the United States Government, asking it to afford aid to the unemployed here to reach America, was brought up, read, and adopted. It wae resolved to request the United States Consul here to forward it to the Government at Washington, and also that copies for signature should be placed in various parts of the city. The meeting then adjourned until Saturday, it being mooted that a monster public meeting should be got up at an earlydate.

Thb Fboiiqubs.—There was a very good house at the Oddfellows' Hall last night, when Messrs Reed and Gilbert took their benefit. The various items on the programme were gone through satisfactorily. Miss Zitella received an encore for her motto song, and gave two other change songe very well indeed. Miss Lottie Elliott's skipping-rope dance evoked loud applause, and the sketches and dances by ' Messrs Reed, Gilbert, Cummings, and Harrington were highly appreciated by the audience. Mr Simonsen played "The Carnival of Venice" in bis usual masterly manner, and, being enoored, played a Scottish air with variations. Mr Mair played a bone solo very well indeed. To-night will be the last appearance of the company here, as they leave for Wellington by the Te Anau to-morrow.

Lira Savthg Appabattts.— Mγ. Kiddey, of the Golden Eleece Hotel, has introduced a system of life ropes in the upper part of hie house, as a means of escape in case of fire. The csntrivance is exceedingly simple, and would, be found of the Igreateet service on emergencies. Over each window on the second floor he has constructed a narrow box extending over the entire width of the window, and inside this box, which ie oovered by a ohintz curtain, is coiled a three-inoh manilla rope, one end of which is attached to the etud above the window.frame, and the other end hangs down an inch below the curtain. Thus, in case of fire, the occupier of one of these rooms or anyone else upstairs, has only to open the window, throw out the " clack" of the rope and descend. As a means of escape this wotld be found of the greatest convenience in every house, and the cost of providing each window with . a rope and fittings/is; exceedingly small. Mr Kiddey may be congratulated on the 'idea, which, though not entirely new, he has carried out with the ingenuity of a sailor. It would be well if every hotel in the country were similarly equipped. Boabd of Ookshevatoss.—A meeting of the Board of Conservators was held yesterday morning. Present —Mr B. J. S. Harman (chairman), Mr A. Duncan, Mr J. N. Tosswell, and the Mayor of Christchurch. The first matter calling for attention was, as pointed out by the chairman, the question of settling with the Oourtenay Road Board as to the reserve, and it was resolved to comply with the request of the Board jthe Board of Conservators reserving to itself a frontage of five chains to the West Coast Boad, and certain other rights as to fencing, &c. The chairman said he had received the specification for the proposed embankment agreed upon by the Board. A few alterations were made in the plan, and the chairman was authorised to call for tenders, and to open them, in conjunction with Mr A. Duncan, on Monday. ' The Board also decided to advertise for a supply of 500 barrels of cement, to be delivered at the rate of sixty barrels per week, and the committee previously appointed was authorised to open the tenders. The chairman explained the position in which the Board now stood with reference to the question of the loan, and it was resolved to leave the matter in the .hands of the chairman, make the best arrangements in his power. The chairman was authorised to advertise the intention to strike the annual rate of Id in the pound on the general district, and an additional Id in the -pound for the special -rate district, on the Ist of July next. This concluded the ordinary business, and, after passing accounts, the Board adjourned,

Waihakabibi Habbob .Boabd. —The or •dinary meeting of this Board was held, on Monday, in the Council Chamber, KaiapoL Present Messrs Blackwell (chairman), Moore, Wearing, and Matthews. Letters were read from the Collector of Castoma re the duties of pilot. From the Minister of Marine, calling attention to the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1877, re dangerous rook at Koomoroo Heads, re dredging in the Lyttelton Harbor, and in reference to the duties of the pilot. From Mr J. W. Ellen, renewing his offer of £15 for six months'rent of the sheds near Wearing's hotel, and from the Borough Gounoil, Mr R. Woodford and Mr T. Pearson, asking for the willows along the river banks to be cut down. Besolved, on the motion of Mr Wearing—"That the resolution re Mr Ellen's offer, passed at last meeting, be rescinded, and the Board accept his offer." The matter of the pilot's duties was left in the hands of the chairman. Besolved —"That the willows along the river bants be out down under the supervision of Messrs Mathews and Wearing." The Board then adjourned. Bbitbtoibnt Association. — The committee appointed at the general meeting met yesterday morning at 10.30, and transacted a very considerable amount of bugines*, and then adjourned until Thursday next at 10 30, when the programme of the future work of the association is to be settled. In the meantime the receipt and distribution is to proceed as heretofore. Between 9 and 11, oases will be heard and decided on ; between 11 and 1, distribution of soup, goode, &c. 5 from and after 2, distribution of clothing; and delivery of soup between 9 and 10 p.m. when occasion requires. Yesterday, 221 were supplied -with soup and bread consumed on the premises, while twenty people took their soup or pro. visions away in their own vessels. Many persona having expressed a wish to pay a trifle in exohange for the goods, and no one having power to receive money in this manner, Mr Nathan, of Colombo street, sent a cash box. In this was, on Monday 4s 63, and yeeterday, 7s 10£ d, chiefly contributed by cabmen. Mr W. J. Fisher sent a bag of sago, and Messrs Hopkins and Co. called personally at the depot to say that they would willingly send any quantity of food required this day, and then take their regular turn to do so gratuitously.

: POPTTLAB CoNCBBT.—A popnlar concert, in aid of the Music Library Fund of Andrew's Churoh, ie announced to be held on Thursday evening, 17 th inst. Immigrants. —. A.boufc thirty immigrants (nominated) 6x.ahip.EeraJ.dine Paget, arrived from Wellington fey the Arawata yesterday. Amongst them are a few single women, who are anxious to accept service. They are at present at the Immigration Depot, Addington. OddpelliOWSHlP.—The anniversary ball of Loyal City of Norwich Lodge, Lyttelton, is announced to be held on the 22nd in the Society's Hall at Port. A; summoned meeting- of the Loyal Avon Lodge, No. 23, A.C., will be held this evening at half-past seven, for the nomination of officers for ensuing term.